Window regulator



June 1, 1943. J. H. ROETHEL j 2,320,751

WINDOW REGULATOR Filed NOV. 16, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 5 b 5)? EJ851562:

Patented June 1, 1943 warren STATES earns WIN DGW REGULATOR John H. Roethel, Detroit, Mich. assignor to Manvel Equipment Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application November 16, 1939, Serial No. 304,814

2 Claims.

This invention relates to window regulators for raising and lowerin glass or transparent panels or the like of vehicles, particularl automobile bodies, an object of the invention being to provide an improved window regulator which is relatively compact, light, positive and efiicient in operation, relatively simple in construction and economical to manufacture, capable of being easily assembled in the body, and adapted to provide not only a desirable handle location but also to be utilized efficiently in connection with both narrow and wide window frames and doors.

A further object of the invention is to provide a window regulatorhaving a main swinging or driving arm extending from a suitable fixed support or mounting plate and operated therefrom as by means of a driving gear, the regulator also comprising a second arm pivoted at one end to an intermediate point on the main arm, or to the outer end thereof as the case may be, and extending angularly therefrom in the direction of the mounting plate for connection to the lower edge of a window panel, a feature ofthe invention being the provision of positive means extending from the second arm, such as from the pivot thereof, toward the inner end of the main arm and operatively connected to the support for holding the second arm against pivotal movement independent of the main arm in any adjusted position of the panel while at the same time controlling the second arm so that it will swing in predetermined manner past the main arm as the window panel is raised and lowered.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a window regulator of the foregoing described kind in which link systems, levers and gears for controlling the second or balance arm from the mounting plate are eliminated, and a very simple, inexpensive, positive and light weight means is provided forthis purpose in the form of an inextensible metal band, such as a steel tape, extending from the mounting plate over and fastened to a pulley or annular member secured to one end of the second or balance .arm at the point where it is pivoted to the main arm. Preferably the steel tape is secured to the mounting plate ativertically spaced points and isadapted to be partially wrapped over an arcuate surface of the plate whose theoretical diameter is in such predetermined ratio tothe diameter of the pulley that the balance arm will be swung in predetermined manner while at the samev time locked or held against pivotal movement independent of the main arm in any adjustedposition of the latter.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new window regulator of th two arm type which will support the window panel at spaced points, inwhich the "two arms are positively controlled in improved manner and mounted compactly upon a single support or mounting plate whereby installation is facilitated and the window panel held substantially level against any material tilting in its plane durin operation;

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had tothe-accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary inner side elevation of an automobile door having installed therein a window regulator embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side view of the window regulator inthe fully raised position of the window panel.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken substantially through lines 33 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a View, somewhat similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating the position of the window regulator in the half way position of the window panel.

Fig. 5 is a somewhat similar view illustrating the position of the window regulator when the window panel is fully lowered.

Fig. 6 is a view, somewhatsimilar to Fig-2, but illustrating a second embodiment as applied either to a single arm or a two arm level travel regulator.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to bev understood that the inventionis not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the inven-- tion is capable of other embodimentsand of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring to the drawings, wherein Ixlhave illustrated,.by wayof example, embodiments of the present invention constructed and adapted for the purpose of raising and lowering a window panel of an automobile body, there is shown at D a door of an automobile body comprising a door frame ID of any suitable construction formed with a main window opening. ,:'.In the present instance this window .opening is closed by means the usual glass run channels, and in addition may be guided within the well below the window opening such as by means of front and rear vertically extending channel guides l2 and i3 engaged by roller guide devices 14 secured to opposite ends of the glass retainer member or channel l5 which embraces the lower edge of the panel I I.

In the present instance the window regulator comprises a suitable fixed support or mounting plate 16 which may be stamped or pressed from a. sheet metal blank and having suitable screw bosses l1 by which the mounting plate may be secured within the window well to the inner door or body panel. A driving gear I8 is rotatively mounted upon the plate I6, this gear being in the form of a sector having gear teeth l8a in meshing relation witha driving pinion mounted upon a handle shaft l9, this shaft being operated by the usual crank handle at the inner side of the door or body and embodying in its length a suitable friction clutch of any conventional type. The sector gear 18, as shown in Fig. 2, is secured to a pivot stud 20 journalled within the mounting plate l6. Secured to the pivot stud 2D and also riveted at 2| to the gear I8 is a swinging driving arm 22 adapted to be swung upwards and downwardly upon turning the gear 18 about its pivotal axis at 20. The arm 22 carries at its outer end a transverse stud 23 slidable horizontally within a guide slot or guideway 24a, in an angle bracket 24 secured, as by spot welding, to' the bottom of the channel l5. Acting upon the driving arm 22 and the gear I8 is a spirally wound counterbalancing spring 25, the inner end of which is fastened in a slot or kerf in the end of the stud 20 and the outer end of which is connected to a lug 26 struck out from the mounting plate.

As shown particularly in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive the present two arm regulator also comprises a second swinging arm 21, herein termed for convenience a balance arm when utilized in connection with the two arm regulator.- The arm 21 is shorter than the drivingarm22 and extends in overlapping relation thereto, the balance arm lying at all times at one side of the driving arm but adapted to pass the same during operation of the window regulator. The arm 21 is pivoted in overlapping relation to the driving arm through the medium of a pivot stud 28 riveted to the arm 21 and journalled in the arm 22, see Fig. 3. The outer end of the arm 21 carries a transverse stud 29 pivotally mounted within an aperture in an angle bracket 30 secured, as by spot welding, to the bottom of the. channel member l5.

It will be seen that as the driving arm 22 of the two arm regulator is swung downwardly and upwards the pivot 28.01 the shorter arm on the driving arm will move through an are having its center at the axis 20 of the driving gear 18. For the purpose of imparting a compensating swinging-motion. to the arm. 21; in a direction opposite to. the swinging :motion :of' the: driving arm: 22,

thereby causing the point of connection 29 of the shorter arm with the window panel to have the same or equal range of vertical travel as the point of connection 23 of the longer arm with the window panel, and at the same time to lock or hold the arm 21 against pivotal movement independent of the main arm in any adjusted position of the latter as well as the window panel, positive means extending from the second arm toward the inner end of the main arm 22 operatively connects the second arm with the support or mounting plate [6. Said means not only imparts the required swinging motion to the arm 21 but also positively looks it at any adjusted position of the window panel. Accordingly, there is fixedly secured to the pivot stud 28 of the arm 21, and therefore secured or fastened to this arm, a relatively small annular wheel or pulley-like member 31. The stud 28 extends centrally through the hub of the member 3| and is riveted thereto. This member is cup-shaped to provide an annular flange or rim 3|a about which is wrapped a metallic band or strap 32, preferably in the form of a relatively thin steel tape which is flexible and at the same time substantially inextensible. The tape or band 32 is fastened to the rim am by means of a rivet 33 which, as shown in Fig. 4, lies on a diameter of the wheel 3| coincident with the central major axis of the arms 22 and 21 when the Window panel is in the half way position. The terminal end of the upper course of the band or tape 32 is fastened by a rivet 34 to a flange portion lfib of the mounting plate l6, and the opposite end of the tape or band is correspondingly riveted at 35 to the flange lBb at a point directly below the point 34. The points 34 and 35 are vertically in line and spaced apart a greater distance than the diameter of annular member 3 I.

In connection with the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive it will be seen that one end of the mounting plate is formed on a radius having its center at the axis 20 of the driving arm 22. In the present instance the upper and lower parallel embossed portions I6a of the mounting plate are extended around the curved end of the plate, and at this end the metal of the plate is flanged out to provide the arcuate rim or flange IBb having its center atthe pivot 20. The ends of the tape 32 are fastened at points 34 and 35- adjacent the opposite ends of the arcuate rim IGb so that when the driving arm 22 swings between the position of Fig. 2 and the position of Fig. 5, during the raising and lowering of the window panel, the upper and lower courses of the tape or band 32will be alternately wrapped upon or unwrapped from the arcuate rim or flange I612. As shown in Fig. 2, the lower course of the steel band is partially wrapped upon the surface Rio, and in Fig. 5'the upper course is correspondingly partially wrapped upon this surface while the lowercourse of :the tape or band 32 is unwrapped therefrom.

It will be readily seen that upon rotating the driving gear I8 to swing the arm 22 downward from the position of 'Fig. 2.to lower the window panel, the positive action of the steel tape 32 will be-to partially rotate the drum or pulley member3l in a counterclockwise direction, thereby swinging'the arm 21 downward in .thedlrection of the. mounting plate and oppositely tothe arm 22. At the half way position of Fig. 4 the arms 21' and' 22' extend in parallel overlapping relation, and during further downwardmovement of the window panel the arm 21'passesiby thearm 22 to the position shown in Fig. 5. The reverse action takes place as the window panel is raised and in like manner the balance arm 21 will pass by the arm 22 and also the positive connection 32 between the arm and the mounting plate.

In the present instance the distances between the points 28 and 23 and the points 23 and 29 are equal. Moreover, in the present instance the included angle between the longitudinal center line of the arm 21 and the longitudinal center line of the arm 22 is 60, and the included angle between the longitudinal center line of the arm 22 and the horizontal line passing through the pivot 20 is 30". The ratio of these two included angles is 2 to 1, and hence the ratio between the theoretical diameter of the arcuate flange or surface [6b and the diameter of the wheel or drum 3| is also 2 to 1. In the illustrated regulator, therefore, the points of connection 23 and 29 of the arms to the window panel remain at all times in line horizontally and the window panel is positively held at these two spaced points level in all positions thereof and at the same time held against tilting or cocking in the plane of the window panel. Moreover, in the present embodiment it will be seen that the point 29 travels vertically in a straight line path, although the point 23 moves in an arc.

An important feature of the invention resides in the fact that the regulator to a large extent may be used interchangeably as a two arm regulator or a single arm regulator. If used as a single arm regulator the main arm 22 may terminate just beyond the pivot 28.

Referring to the embodiment of Fig. 6 it will be seen in full lines that the main arm 22 terminates substantially at its connection 28 with the arm 21, thus providing a single arm regulator having a single point of connection 29 with the window panel. In dot and dash lines at 22a the arm 22 is extended for connection, as at 23 in Fig. 2, to

the window panel providing a two arm window regulator. In the embodiment of Fig. 6 the armate surface I6?) is omitted and the upper and lower ends of the steel band 32 are attached at fixed points to the extended end 38 of the mounting plate through the medium of projecting pins 36 and 31, the ends of the band having loops embracing the pins in such manner as to permit these ends to turn upon the pins. In this embodiment also the annular member 3! is mounted through stud 28 on the opposite side of arm 22 between the latter and arm 21 and is directly riveted to the latter at 39. Other than this the construction of the regulator in Fig. 6 is substantially identical to the construction shown in Fig. 2.

Thus, as the window panel is lowered or raised the arms 21 and 22 swing in diverging relation and in opposite directions. Since, however, the path of travel of point 29 is non-parallel with respect to the path of travel of point 23, said path of travel of point 29 being either in a rectilinear path or more nearly approximating one, there is no material tendency of the panel to be shifted laterally to one side or the other by any frictional drag of the stud 23 in the guide slot 24a. Moreover, since arms 21 and 22 swing in opposite directions the points of support 29 and 23 are increasingly separated as the window glass travels down or up toward the half way position, thus achieving a desirable advantage in respect to the stability of the window glass in open position. Also, it will be seen that the entire mechanism is carried by a single support or mounting plate to one side of the center line of the glass and, hence, a remote handle location at I9 may be had. This handle location may be varied, as desired, by variations in the size of gear I8 and in the lengths of arms 22 and 21. It will also be readily seen from the motion of the arms 21 and 22 that too wide a spread of points 29 and 23 is avoided, thus enabling the regulator to be utilized to advantage with both wide and narrow windows.

I claim:

1. A window regulator for raising and lowering a window panel, comprising a mounting plate, a relatively long arm mounted to swing from the plate and having means at its outer end for connection to the panel, a relatively short arm extending entirely to one side of the long arm and pivoted at its inner end thereto, the outer end of the short arm having means for connection to the panel and the short arm adapted to swing oppositely to the'lo-ng arm and past the same when the panel is raised and lowered, and a flexible member attached to the short arm at a point spaced from the pivot thereof and also at constant vertically spaced points to the plate and effective to hold the short arm against pivotal movement independent of the long arm in any adjusted position of the latter.

2. A window regulator for raising and lowering a window panel, comprising a mounting plate, a main arm mounted to swing from the plate and having driving means at its inner end and means at its outer end for connection to the panel, a second arm extending entirely to one side of the main arm and pivoted at its inner end thereto, the outer end of the second arm having means for connection to the window panel and the second arm adapted to swing oppositely to the main arm and past the same when the panel is raised and lowered, and a flexible member attached to the second arm at a fixed point spaced from the pivot thereof and also at constant vertically spaced points to the mounting plate and effective to hold the second arm against pivotal movement independent of the main arm in any adjusted position of the latter, said vertically spaced points lying on a fixed line substantially parallel to the line of travel of the point of attachment of the second arm to the window panel.

JOHN H. ROETI-IEL. 

